Skipping the first two matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 hasn’t worked in Hardik Pandya‘s favour. The star all-rounder who hadn’t played a List A match since October 2023 lasted just two balls in the Baroda vs Bengal match. Due to personal reasons, Hardik didn’t feature for Baroda against Tripura and Kerala.
Hardik Pandya rusty on List A return
However, he informed the Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) that he’d be available for the last four Group Stage matches. Coming from a good run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Hardik was expected to do well in his first List A match in 13 months. But Bengal’s Pradipta Pramanik had other ideas. Coming to bat at number four, the left-arm spinner got Hardik out on the first delivery he bowled to him.
Preparing for the ICC Champions Trophy
Despite a low score, Hardik Pandya playing 50-over cricket once again bodes well ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The all-rounder is a vital cog in Team India’s ODI machinery and provides the needed balance in white-ball cricket. He also played a crucial role in Team India lifting the T20 World Cup 2024 trophy earlier in the year, putting his hand with both bat and ball when the team needed him.
Hardik has already played in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. He averaged over 50 and struck at nearly 200 in the tournament and was the only shining light for India in the final loss to Pakistan.
Hardik Pandya’s ODI and List A record
| Matches | Runs | Bat Average | 100s & 50s | Wickets | Bowl Average | Economy | Bowl SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 86 | 1769 | 34.01 | 0 & 11 | 84 | 132 | 5.55 | 38 |
| List A | 107 | 2103 | 32.35 | 0 & 13 | 100 | 152 | 5.41 | 39.4 |
